Chapter 76 - Recruitment
(1)
I had a dream.
A dream where I was playing soccer.
Everyone is celebrating because we won.
I was watching from afar.
I had finished a job.
I take a breath.
"Why are you over there?"
Who is it?
"Why... I'm just not good at the hype."
"Even though you're hyped when you're eating."
Rather than feeling joy at winning, I feel relief.
There is no sense of satisfaction.
I'm just glad we didn't lose.
Because if we lost, I'd be blamed again.
"If it's that painful, you should just quit."
"I guess so."
"You don't have to force yourself to keep going, you know?"
I know.
That's why I quit.
"Why are you quitting?"
"Because it's not fun."
"Keep going. It's a waste of such a rare talent."
"It's not like I got it because I wanted it."
"Isn't that cowardly? Aren't you just running away?"
Who is it! They've been noisy for a while now.
"Toya-kun, don't be misled by voices like that."
"I know."
I don't need talent.
What I want is... Airi?
"Toya-kun."
I feel something lukewarm.
It's very soft and feels good.
"Hey, wake up."
Just a little longer... let me be intoxicated by this sweet sensation.
"I said wake up..."
What is this? It's not a dream.
If it's not a dream...
I open my eyes and look back.
"Are you awake?"
"￠￡％＃＆□△◆■!?"
Airi has crawled into the bed and is hugging me from behind.
"W-what are you doing!?"
"You looked like you were having a nightmare, so I thought I'd wake you up gently."
Usually, I've refused her because Kanna is here... where is Kanna!?
"What happened to Kanna?"
"I had her go downstairs first."
I see...
Wait, where are you touching!?
"Good, this part is healthy and energetic too!"
Is that the issue here!?
"But, are you okay? You were really tossing and turning."
"Yeah, I had a bit of a bad dream."
"What kind of dream?"
True, it's not good to keep secrets from Airi.
"A dream where I was playing soccer..."
"I see..."
Airi thinks for a moment.
In the meantime, I get out of bed and start changing.
"Maybe it's better to change the event for the class match to something else?"
"I guess so."
If she'll allow it.
"Toya-kun is wonderful even when he's not playing soccer!"
I suppose that's her best effort at encouragement.
"Thanks... finish changing. Shall we go downstairs?"
"Yeah!"
Airi replies brightly.
...I wanted to taste that sensation for just a little longer.
(2)
Finally, this time has come.
I studied hard to get into this high school.
I wonder if Katagiri-senpai is playing soccer?
It seems Tada-senpai's Ida High was active last year.
Come to think of it, this high school didn't appear at all.
I wonder why?
Immediately after enrollment, I submitted my club application.
As a manager for the Soccer Club, of course.
I can see Katagiri-senpai's super plays from nearby.
That play back in the third year of middle school was amazing.
I see, there's no one who can receive those passes.
That's how I had convinced myself.
However, reality was not so sweet.
"Katagiri? That guy isn't doing club activities."
That's what I was told by the advisor, Mikimoto-sensei.
Eh? He's really not doing it?
That's absolutely a waste.
Why didn't you recruit him?
His middle school play—it was only one play, but it was amazing.
I squeeze out every bit of my linguistic ability to convey that greatness to Mikimoto-sensei.
"I see, then shall we try to persuade him?"
Of course!
It would be crazy to leave him alone.
"I will accompany you."
"I'll tell him during HR, so you should come after that's finished. By the way, your phone number—no, as a manager. Communication is necessary, right?"
Pretending I didn't hear the latter part, I left the staff room.
(3)
"Ah, the members are mostly the same."
Mizuta-sensei said that as soon as he opened his mouth.
The class assignments mostly went according to our wishes.
The three of us were in the same class.
Ijuin-san and Morishita-san went to Science III.
The rest, except for a few, went to Humanities II.
Apparently, this school assigns classes based on the students' abilities.
It seems only those who entered from middle school in the combined middle-high system can enter the III course.
For humanities, some high school entrants also enter the III course, but Airi declined.
Because there's no need to challenge difficult universities.
And so, we ended up proceeding with the same members as always.
"Ah, I'll introduce Mikimoto-sensei, who became the assistant homeroom teacher starting this year."
"I'm Mikimoto, my major is music. I'm reasonably good at the piano. If any girls want to learn, don't hesitate to tell me."
Silence.
Another teacher with that kind of vibe.
Are there no decent teachers named Mikimoto...
"That aside, I heard there's someone named Katagiri Toya."
He called my name.
Hmm? What does he want?
"Is something the matter with Katagiri-kun?"
Airi said.
"Oh! Tosaka-san, was it. This teacher has a complete grasp of the girls' names."
"We're talking about Katagiri-kun, right?"
Airi is completely shutting him out.
"Right, I heard you were active in soccer during middle school? How about it? Any interest in doing it in high school?"
"No."
I answered immediately.
I'll say it again, but I don't have the stamina to run for 90 minutes.
"I've heard that too, that you're a specialist player."
"I'm sorry, but I quit soccer in elementary school."
"Why? If you're active in soccer, you'll be popular with the girls."
"I've never thought that I wanted to be popular."
"Personally, I'd like to see you, who looks plain at a glance, become popular."
"I think it's questionable to push someone when the person themselves says they don't want to do it."
Airi raised her voice.
It's rare for her to raise her voice at school.
I was the one who was bewildered.
"What's this, Tosaka. You're taking Katagiri's side quite a bit."
"Sensei, those two are dating—"
Someone in the class said that.
"What, was that the case? Then, I suppose a rival has appeared."
Rival?
What does that mean?
"Well, you'll understand once HR is over."
"Mikimoto-sensei, that's enough with the personal matters."
Mizuta-sensei cut in, sounding exhausted.
"True, that's all from the teachers."
And so HR ends.
Then, Mikimoto-sensei approached me.
"Hey Katagiri. There's a girl who absolutely wants to talk to you. I'm envious of your popularity."
It's not like I've ever thought I wanted to be popular.
Not entirely, though.
Though it's a secret from Airi.
Well, I know I'm a special case.
However, I want to avoid anything that would chip away at my relationship with Airi.
This teacher spoke without sensing those circumstances at all.
"Toya-kun, if you don't want to, there's no need to meet. I'll tell her for you."
She probably sensed the situation somehow.
Airi becomes emotional when it comes to me.
I can't overlook Airi's actions when she doesn't think about the consequences.
"It's okay. I'm just meeting her to talk for a bit."
"Then it's fine if we come along, right?"
We?
Ah, Kanna is coming too?
"Sure, follow me."
Even if you say no, you'll just follow secretly anyway, right?
And so, guided by the teacher, I went out into the hallway, where there was a girl I'd seen somewhere.
"Katagiri-senpai, it's been a long time."
...Who was she again?
I look at Airi and the others, but she seems to be a girl I don't know.
"It's been since the day of the graduation ceremony. I'm Sakura."
Ah, was she the girl who was captivated by my play?
The girl who ran away, overwhelmed by Airi's pressure.
So, what on earth does she want with me?
"Ah, Sakura-san. What on earth do you want with me?"
"Please join the Soccer Club."
She conveyed her request without a moment's delay.
So I gave her an immediate answer too.
"Impossible. I have studying. Besides, I have absolutely no intention of playing soccer now."
But she doesn't back down.
Keep the request brief, but the negotiation persistent.
Did someone say that?
"I chose this high school because I wanted to see Katagiri-senpai's play! It's a waste to have such talent! Let's play soccer!"
"...I'm happy you're praising me, but I can't do a play like that ever again."
"You were amazing during the class match, let's play soccer."
Even Umeki-kun, who had been listening, joined in.
Saying unnecessary things.
Look, Sakura-san's eyes are sparkling now.
"You were still playing soccer! It's a waste to end it with the class match!"
I know she has no malice.
But impossible is impossible.
Because I have no intention of doing it.
It's not that I hate soccer.
However, while enjoying it to the extent of a class match is one thing, I'm not suited by personality for competing in matches.
At that moment, Umeki-kun let out a word.
"Isn't it cowardly to act all proud during the class match and then not play soccer seriously? You have the talent, so you should do it."
The nightmare from this morning came to mind.
Aren't you just running away?
I lose my words.
Am I a person who has to play soccer?
Am I only a soccer person?
I wasn't acting proud.
There are plenty of other things I want to do.
But the people around me won't allow it.
I had lost my place to escape.
Do I just have to do it?
A crowd has gathered.
If I say yes, will the commotion settle down?
"...I understand...!?"
Airi was covering my mouth with her hand.
"If you don't want to, you don't have to do it."
Airi speaks to me gently.
"I'll never say that you mustn't run away. If you want to run, it's okay to run."
"But I have to do something about this commotion..."
However, Airi stepped forward as if to say leave the rest to me.
Airi spoke quietly toward Sakura-san.
"Sakura-san, was it? I think it's questionable to force someone who doesn't want to do it. You call it talent, but it's not like he got it because he liked it. If you have talent, do you have to do it? Is soccer something you have to do even when forced by others?"
"I-I just thought it's a waste not to do it when you can make plays that captivate people so much—Tosaka-senpai, was it? You've also seen his play, right? Then—"
"He looked very bored. If Toya-kun has no motivation, you shouldn't make him do it. Though it's not just soccer that he seems to have no motivation for."
That one sentence is hurtful, Airi.
"Hey, Katagiri. Why not just try a trial? Things might change. I don't know what you're thinking, but I think it's questionable to run away without even trying."
Running away...
Is that really how it looks?
But Airi seemed to be ignited by that one word from Mikimoto-sensei.
"Saying he's running away because he doesn't do it! That's the argument of the person forcing him! You're ignoring the argument of the person who doesn't want to do it!"
"However, a reason for not wanting to do it like 'it's a pain' isn't convincing, is it?"
"Airi, that's enough! ...I understand. If a trial is fine, I'll join."
"Toya-kun!?"
The most troublesome thing right now is this commotion.
If they say a trial is fine, I'll just do it.
I don't think I'll do it seriously, though.
"However, only until this year's Inter-High qualifiers. Is that okay?"
"Oh, if you've become motivated, then that's fine."
"You've become motivated! For now, that's enough. Your mind might change if you do it."
"Alright, this year's Inter-High appearance is decided!"
Are those three even listening to what I'm saying?
They're getting excited on their own.
Kanna and Airi have unhappy looks on their faces.
"Is it okay, Toya? Making a promise like that..."
"That's right, Toya-kun. You said you didn't want to do it."
"If I don't say this, the commotion won't stop, right?"
"...Toya-kun. I think it's questionable to decide important things as a stopgap."
I know the two of them are worried about me.
But that's exactly why I don't want to involve the two of them.
With those thoughts, I consented.
Honestly, I hate it.
I thought it was the end.
It's been decided that I'll participate in practice starting tomorrow.